The Friends of the Library just learned that severe cuts are planned for the Library's Fiscal Year 2010 budget. This budget cut will be a larger percentage than most town department cuts. This disproportionate cut will mean that the Chelmsford Public Library is in danger of losing its State Certification.

Loss of Certification means:

Loss of $55,000 in State Library Aid

All Chelmsford residents lose borrowing privileges from all other Libraries in the state

Chelmsford students lose the ability to obtain materials from other towns' libraries to complete their school projects

Town residents no longer have access to interlibrary loans. (Chelmsford is the largest user of interlibrary loan of any town in the consortium, and processed 150,000 requests last year.)

When asked about the disproportionate cuts, town officials responded that it is the 'Library's turn' for deep cuts. This is an unacceptable penalty on residents and on our Library that serves the people of Chelmsford so efficiently, and has such a large presence in our town's culture.

We acknowledge the town is having a tough time financially, and that the Library should do its part to help with this struggle. However, we ask the town to ensure that the Library budget will meet Certification requirements.

SO - WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

We presented over 1100 of your letters to the Selectmen at the town information
session on Wednesday, February 25. We will continue to collect letters
until town meeting in April. Here's how you can join in supporting the
Library:

Show your opposition NOW to the disproportionate budget cut. Reply to this letter (sample wording can be found below) and please include your name and address.

Numbers talk. Forward this letter to all your Chelmsford friends and neighbors.

To Town Manager Paul Cohen, the Chelmsford Finance Committee, and the Board of Selectmen:

I believe that the Library's mission is too important to our town to have drastic cuts made to its already small budget. Also, I am very concerned about losing my ability to use other town libraries or to borrow materials from them through interlibrary loan if the Chelmsford Library loses its State Certification. This loss of Certification will also mean that the Library will lose an additional $55,000 in state aid, making the impact of budget cuts even greater. Please restore enough of the Chelmsford Library's Budget to remedy this problem.